Cross-sectional studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked A-WHT-12 standard review
Whole grains and metabolic markers
Whole-grain intake is favorably associated with metabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Offspring Study.
Overview
McKeown NM et al.. Am J Clin Nutr 2002 · PMID 12145012 · DOI 10.1093/ajcn/76.2.390
Whole grains linked to slightly better markers; refined grains showed no trend.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Grains and markers
- How was the study done?
Cross-sectional
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
2941
- What was actually found?
Refined grains neutral
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
No signal for refined
- What are the study's limitations?
Cross-sectional
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Does not support claim
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cause
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- McKeown NM, Meigs JB, Liu S, Wilson PW, Jacques PF
- Journal
- Am J Clin Nutr
- Year
- 2002
- Identifier
- PMID 12145012 DOI 10.1093/ajcn/76.2.390
- Verification
- verified – PubMed E-utilities efetch, 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
None stated.
2. Research question
Grain intake and metabolic markers
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study – Cross-sectional
- Population
2941 adults
- Country
USA
- Period
not stated
- Sample size
2941
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Whole and refined grains
- Comparator
Quintiles
- Endpoints
BMI, WHR, lipids, insulin
- Statistical methods
Multivariable
5. Actual results
- Results
Whole grain inversely associated with BMI (26.9 vs 26.4; P 0.06), WHR (P 0.005), LDL (P 0.02), fasting insulin (P 0.03). No significant trends across quintiles of refined-grain intake.
- Absolute risks
not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Whole grains may reduce risk via metabolic risk factors.
6. Strengths
- Biomarkers
7. Weaknesses
- Cross-sectional
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- ROBINS-E
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- high
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Small differences.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Limits C-WHT-06.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Moderate.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Refined grains neutral.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | high |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | mixed |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- Refined-grain eaters carry more visceral fat and are more prone to obesity and metabolic syndrome. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim
Use by the Tayebat archive
Note: according to the archive, the studies were compiled by the archive operators. Whether Dr. Elawady himself cited this study is not established.
- What the archive says about the study
Listed in bibliography only.
- B. What did the authors find?
No refined-grain trends.
- E. Is this derivation scientifically justified?
Does not support harm from refined grains.
- Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)
- not applicable